The Need for a Green ICT Reference Framework

TL;DR

This paper emphasizes the importance of a shared Green ICT reference framework to effectively assess and govern the sustainability impacts of ICT systems, addressing current measurement and responsibility challenges.

Contribution

It proposes an initial Green ICT reference framework integrating sustainability across perspectives, lifecycle phases, and governance contexts, as a foundational step.

Findings

Identifies key challenges in assessing ICT sustainability.

Proposes a comprehensive initial framework for Green ICT.

Highlights the need for integrated measurement practices.

Abstract

The sustainability impacts of ICT systems are difficult to assess and govern due to structural complexity, fragmented measurement practices, and unclear responsibilities across system layers. We argue that these challenges cannot be addressed solely by metrics and motivate the need for a shared Green ICT reference framework that integrates sustainability across multiple perspectives and domains, lifecycle phases, and governance contexts. We present an initial framework developed within the Informatics Europe Green ICT Working Group as a first step towards a comprehensive reference framework.